Mining Services

Two types of mining occur in Manatee County: Phosphate and Borrow Pit mining.

Borrow pits are regulated locally in accordance with Section 732 of the Land Development Code. In addition to permits from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, they must obtain approval of a Manatee County Special Permit and Operating Permit in order to operate. Typically in Manatee County, borrow pits are mined for sand and topsoil material. Sand and shell from borrow pits have a variety of uses, but are most commonly used to contour construction sites, house pads and road bases. There are currently two active permitted borrow pit mines in Manatee County.

There are currently over 17,000 acres of land approved for phosphate mining in Manatee County. Phosphate rock is used to make fertilizer. Only one company is actively mining phosphate in Manatee County - Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC. read on Mining in Manatee County